Paul McCartney's lawyer during his divorce, Fiona Shackleton, has been hired by Madonna. This has led to the
inevitable speculation that she may be divorcing husband Guy Ritchie and may not have had a prenuptial agreement.
At this time, neither the singer nor her lawyer have released a statement but Ritchie's mother, Lady Amber Leighton,
told The Daily Mail, "There's no conversation about divorce because there is no divorce. They are not getting
divorced; the speculation is TT -- that's total tosh."
Luciano Pavarotti's widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, and family (his four daughters) have reportedly reached a friendly
agreement on how to divide up his estate according to the widow's lawyer. Pavarotti died in September and the division
of his estate has been in limbo as he had drafted two wills near the end of his battle with cancer.
36 year-old Nashville resident Calvin Hutton Houghland has been charged with disorderly conduct and public intoxication
after he repeatedly harassed Cher at Tootsies Orchid Lounge. Police say that Cher declined to prosecute but Houghland
asked to be arrested.
According to an article from Monterrey, Mexico, newspaper El Norte, Ratt were forced to end their performance on
Friday early as vocalist Stephen Pearcy appeared incapacitated and was unable to finish the show. Pearcy reportedly
lost his balance and fell into the crowd, was helped back on stage by show security, fell backwards, got up and
continued to perform. The band left the stage after 50 minutes to return with rhythm guitarist John Corabi on vocals
for the final two songs of the set. Corabi apologized to the crowd for Pearcy having "jet lag." The band
have been added to the July 9th date at Rocklahoma.
Boy George's problem with getting a U.S. visa arose during a press briefing last week by U.S. State Department
Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey in-between talk of Iran, Afghanistan and Albania. Casey said, "I've seen the report
that's out there. Obviously, visa records are confidential. But I'd simply note that there often are difficulties
for individuals who either are currently subject to criminal charges or otherwise may have criminal records. So
I think you might want to look toward some of those reasons as why he might be having some difficulties here."
The Offspring's Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace has debuted at #10 on the Billboard 200 album chart selling 46,000
copies. Judas Priest's Nostradamus debuted at #11 selling 42,000 copies (their highest debut of their career.)
Journey's Revelation dropped 6 places to #12. Emmylou Harris' All I Intended To Be fell 8 spots to #30. Frank Sinatra's
Nothing But The Best dropped 17 places to #34. Madonna's Hard Candy fell 5 spots to #36.
Madonna's "4 Minutes" featuring Justin Timberlake fell 7 spots to #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles
chart.
Journey's Revelation has retained the #1 spot on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart and Sergio Mendes' Encanto
still holds the #1 spot on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz albums chart.
Neil Diamond's Home Before Dark retained the #3 spot on the U.K. Albums chart. Paul Weller's 22 Dreams fell 2 places
to #7. Neil Diamond's The Best Of Neil Diamond dropped 3 spots to #16. Petula Clark's Then & Now: The Very
Best Of Petula Clark fell 2 places to #19. Madonna's Hard Candy climbed 4 spots to #20. Dolly Parton's The Very
Best Of Dolly Parton retained the #23 position. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss' Raising Sand re-entered the chart
at #37.
Madonna's "4 Minutes" featuring Justin Timberlake holds the #14 spot on the U.K. Singles chart. Her latest
single, "Give It To Me," comes in at #25.
The National Day of the Cowboy organization recently awarded Michael Martin Murphey with the Cowboy Keeper Award
for his substantial contribution to the preservation of Western heritage.
The University of Surrey has conferred an honorary doctorate degree upon legendary guitarist Jimmy Page.
Willie Nelson will hold a press conference on July 3rd at Willie's Place at Carl's Corner (just north or Waco,
Texas.) He will discuss his rebuilding and expansion of the landmark Carl's Corner truckstop into a roadside oasis
and entertainment complex for 21st Century trucking and travel. The complex will also be the largest fueling station
in America pumping BioWillie premium biodiesel.
Kenny Rogers has signed on to narrate, We The People, a 3-part historical documentary about the Declaration of
Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights to be released in February to coincide with President's Day.
Stryper have released a new single via iTunes. The classic Boston song, "Peace Of Mind," features Tom
Scholz. Stryper vocalist Michael Sweet has been working as a member of Boston on their Greatest Hits Tour '08 this
summer.
The Charlatans U.K. will see the release of a 32 track collection of session tracks and concert recordings from
the BBC as a double-CD set entitled Best Of The BBC Recordings 1999-2006 on July 14th.
Vocalist Nick Richards and Brian Chattons have re-launched their band Boys Don't Cry with Nick's son James on guitar.
They spent this month finishing work on their new album, White Punks On Rap, which will be released to iTunes soon.
The disc will include two new songs as well as songs recorded over the last decade. They have also set up their
new Web site (www.iwannabeacowboy.net).
Celine Dion, Kenny Loggins, Billy Joel, Sinead O'Connor, Wynonna Judd and Raffi have contributed songs to the Stork
Tunes CD compilation which supports the March of Dimes efforts to give every baby a healthy start in life.
Avian have announced that "The Lost And Forsaken" will be the first single from their new studio album,
Ashes And Madness, which is due out on Sept. 16th.
Stevie Wonder is working on several projects. Since the May 2006 death of his mother, Lula Mae Hardaway, he has
been working on The Gospel Inspired By Lula. He is also creating a performance piece, Through The Eyes Of Wonder,
that he intends to reflect his experience as a blind man. A duets album with Tony Bennett is still in the very
early stages and rumors have surfaced that Quincy Jones could produce the album which could be a Marvin Gaye covers
collection. Wonder also expects to be involved this year in some special media pieces that will commemorate Motown's
50th anniversary.
The Goo Goo Dolls have announced that they will release their new single, "Real," via iTunes soon. The
song is currently up on their MySpace page to preview.
Scotland's Simple Minds have been busy writing new songs for their next studio album. According to frontman Jim
Kerr, "The writing sessions have somehow taken over our entire lives, but they have worked out perfectly.
I am having difficulty in remembering the last time we had such an abundance of material prior to recording. We
may even have enough songs of sufficient quality for two albums." They have hopes to release the first next
year.
Sepultura have been working on their new studio album and have just finished the recording process. Mixing is expected
to begin on July 12th.
Steely Dan's Walter Becker will release his new studio album, Circus Money, in the U.K. and the rest of Europe
on July 14th. The album will include, "Dark Horse Dub'," an exclusive bonus track not available on the
North American release. Becker's last solo album was 1994's 11 Tracks Of Whack.
R.E.M. will release their 9-track EP, Live In London, on July 1st exclusively via iTunes. The performance was recorded
during their in-store performance in March at the Regents Street Apple store. Meanwhile, the next single from Accelerate
will be "Man-Sized Wreath."
Alabama's Randy Owen has been busy working on his solo debut, One On One, and writing his autobiography, Born Country,
which are both due out on Nov. 11th.
The Revolting Cocks have announced that "I'm Not Gay" will be the first single from their upcoming album,
Sex-O Olympic-O, due out Oct. 14th.
Freebass plan to release their as-yet-untitled debut album in March. The group is composed of bassists Peter Hook
(of New Order/Joy Division), Mani (of Stone Roses/Primal Scream) and Andy Rourke (of the Smiths.) Several guest
vocalists including Tim Burgess (of the Charlatans U.K.), Ian Brown (of the Stone Roses) and Bobby Gillespie (of
Primal Scream) have been mentioned as guest vocalists on the upcoming release. Meanwhile, Primal Scream have made
their new single, "Urban Guerilla," available for free download (www.myfreedownload.co.uk/primalscream).
The song is a cover of a Hawkwind track and comes from their upcoming album, Beautiful Future, due out July 21st.
The second single, "Can't Go Back," is due out July 14th.
The Jackson's 1980 album, Triumph, will be reissued on Sept. 2nd via Epic/Legacy with bonus tracks (a single mix
of "This Place Hotel" and instrumental mix of "Walk Right Now.")
El DeBarge, Carlos Santana, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sly Stone will make appearances on George Clinton's upcoming
covers album, George Clinton And Some Gangsters Of Love, due out Sept. 16th. The album does include one new track,
"Mathematics Of Love."
Former Waysted and Tyketto vocalist Danny Vaughn will see the second release from his From The Inside project entitled
Visions on Aug. 1st via Frontiers Records.
Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian of the Hooters and their former Baby Grand bandmate Rick Chertoff have been working
with Joan Osborne again. Osbourne will release Little Wild One on Sept. 9th.
The reunion of Minneapolis funk act The Time for a series of shows this summer at Las Vegas' Flamingo hotel isn't
the only thing in their plans. The group have been working in the studio on their first new album since 1990's
Pandemonium.
The Jesus & Mary Chain will release their 4-disc boxed set, The Power Of Negative Thinking: B-Sides & Rarities,
via Rhino on Sept. 30th.
According to Sony/BMG, AC/DC's follow-up to 2000's Stiff Upper Lip will be released exclusively through Wal-Mart
stores in the U.S. in August.
Pre-orders for Juliana Hatfield's upcoming album, How To Walk Away, can be made at YeOldeRecords.com and JulianaHatfield.com.
The album is due out Aug. 19th. She also plans to publish a memoir entitled When I Grow Up on Sept. 29th.
Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Chris Doheny has relaunched Geisha and started recording sessions for what
will be the first studio album by the Australian act since 1989. The new single, "Birthday," will be
released ahead of the album.
George Jones will see the release of his Burn Your Playhouse Down: The Unreleased Duets collection on Aug. 19th
via Bandit Records. The set includes unreleased duets with Keith Richards, Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette.
According to a statement released by Phish keyboardist Page McConnell, the group plan to meet to discuss their
options. McConnell said, that "later this year we hope to spend some time together and take a look at what
possible futures we might enjoy. In fact, the only real decision that has been made is that when we do get together,
it will only be the four of us, hopefully with no distractions. I am really looking forward to that."
The Church have been working on a new studio album and are taking time off here and there for solo performances
in Australia. No word on when the follow-up to 2007's El Momento Siguiente is due out.
Jimmy Barnes has announced that he will become the first Australian act to adopt the Alive Drive for media release.
The product from New Found Frequency is a USB wristband that will feature audio, video and image content as well
as live updates for fans via the Internet. Ringo Star and George Michael are just a few of the artists that have
used the technology.
Ricky Skaggs has gone back over his country hits and recorded bluegrass versions of many of them for his new album,
The High Notes, that will be sold exclusively at Cracker Barrel Country Stores starting July 1st.
Jermaine Dupri recently told People magazine that he and longtime partner Janet Jackson will try to start a family
once her new tour finishes.
The new Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young documentary, CSNY: Deja Vu, heads to U.S. theaters, home video and retail
on July 25th. The soundtrack is due out July 22nd via Reprise.
Toyah has released a 39-track double-disc career retrospective, Good Morning Universe: The Very Best Of Toyah.
The collection includes two previously-unreleased tracks "Angel (demo)" and a 1994 remix of "Now
I'm Running."
F5 will release their sophomore album, The Reckoning, on Aug. 19th. F5 features former Megadeth members David Ellefson
and Jimmy DeGrasso.
Sony BMG will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Paul Young's No Parlez album with a special double-CD edition on
July 14th in the U.K. The set will contain the original recordings, remixes, demos, live tracks and B-sides.
According to his recent interview with the Vietnamese local newspaper Cong An Nhan Dan, Gary Glitter [a.k.a. Paul
Gadd] plans to return to music after his release from prison in that country. "I have an incomplete album
that I want to finish. I have been thinking about the plan during my days in jail. I have sung rock & roll
for 40 years. After jail, I will continue to rock & roll."
Primary Wave Music Publishing is currently shopping a cartoon, J-Stache, based on Hall & Oates' John Oates
and his mustache (voiced by comedian Dave Attell) which features some of the band's music. The show could launch
on the Internet before being picked up by a network.
Sebastian Bach is readying a re-release of his Angel Down album as an FYE exclusive that will be packaged with
a DVD that includes 5 live performances and the Road Rage documentary. Angel Down will also get released in Britain
for the first time on July 21st. He also has mentioned that he has been contacted by Slash about an upcoming project
that doesn't involve Velvet Revolver. Bach, Irene Cara and Jermaine Jackson participated in the CMT reality series
Gone Country 2 which debuts in August.
Robin Gibb has told the BBC that he is "very open" to a comeback as the Bee Gees if Barry "feels
comfortable with it." The brothers agreed not to use the name again after their brother Maurice died in 2003.
Robin has been working on a new solo album.
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith headed to stores on Sunday. The band held a press conference on Friday and gave a video
sneak preview of the game at New York's Hard Rock Cafe. Meanwhile, vocalist Steven Tyler has come clean about his
stay in rehab last month. Tyler told the Associated Press, "To have your feet done, to have your leg done,
you have to be on narcotics." "You have to be on sleep aids at night. I don't know about Joe but I was
off and running and I didn't like the me that was me... so I just put the brakes on and checked into detox."
Bandmates Joe Perry and Tyler were known as the "Toxic Twins" at the peak of their drug abuse prior to
entering rehab.
Grace Jones has signed a recording deal with Wall Of Sound for the release of her first new album in nearly two
decades, Hurricane, due out in October.
Vileevils have released their second single, "The Way I Feel Inside." The song has also been called Vileevils
vs. Zombies as the track includes vocals by legendary Zombies singer Colin Bluntstone. Vileevils are former Pop
Will Eat Itself members Graham Crabb and Adam Mole.